Private Adoption vs. Agency Adoption
Whether you choose to go the route of private adoption or agency adoption, growing your family through adoption will be the most rewarding journey of your life. But if you’re just starting out on this journey, you probably have many questions surrounding the difference between these two types of adoption.
We’re here to outline the key differences between private adoption and agency adoption. Our hope is that understanding the key differences will help you decide which adoption route is best for your family.
Private Adoption
Private adoption refers to the process of adoption without going through an agency. After the birth parents and adoptive parents find each other through means other than a public agency, such as an adoption connection service, word of mouth, networking or adoption advertising, they will need an adoption attorney to make the adoption legal.
Families hoping to adopt a newborn typically go the private adoption route, which can cost between $10,000 to $30,000 or more. Adopting a newborn through a public adoption agency isn’t as common, because the children are placed in foster care while the birth parents are given the opportunity to regain custody by fulfilling the state requirements. By the time they’re eligible to be adopted, they’re no longer babies.
Private adoption is usually a quicker process, because the birth parents or birth mother relinquish their rights as soon as they sign the paperwork.
Although each case is different, private adoption usually opens the door for some sort of contact with the birth parents after the adoption has taken place such as visitation, picture exchange, etc. They can also choose a no contact arrangement, but these terms are decided upon before the adoption becomes legal.
Public Adoption or Agency Adoption
Public adoption refers to adoption through the use of an agency. Children adopted from public agencies are typically in the foster care system and their parents have already terminated their legal rights. Public adoption is also referred to as foster-to-adopt, meaning foster parents will take the steps to legally adopt the child they foster.
The goal of the foster care system is to allow birth parents the opportunity to fulfill the state requirements to get their children back, so the wait time to adopt foster care children can be a few years. Children placed in foster homes can range from newborn to 17 years old. With that said, public adoption usually involves adoption of older children.
Public or agency adoption is a more uncertain way to adopt since the birth parents can choose to come back and regain custody of the child. However, it’s the more affordable option because the state funds a majority of the adoption expenses.
Private Adoption vs. Agency Adoption Conclusion
Hopeful adoptive parents should consider the time it takes to adopt, the costs involved and the age of the child they want to adopt when choosing the type of adoption that’s right for them.
Some couples want to help children in need, so they choose the public adoption route. Some couples prefer to adopt a newborn, which is why they choose the private adoption route. The type of adoption chosen for your family will depend on your unique circumstances.